T-Mobile planning limited UMA rollout for September 12?

GigaOM, citing unnamed sources, is suggesting that T-Mobile's well-documented UMA plans will come to fruition in Seattle and possibly another yet-to-be-named city (Chicago and the Bay Area are mentioned as strong candidates) on September 12 with other markets lighting up shortly thereafter. Given everything we've seen, we don't have a compelling reason to doubt a limited launch on 9/14 is possible -- though if our sources' accounts of battery life, voice quality, and GSM / WiFi handoff buffoonery on the Samsung T709 launch handset are close to accurate, we might have to take a pass on version one.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2006 3:12AM]

The devils are in the details...naturally...But, I have no doubt that I'll be taking T-Mo up on this service, That is if they allow UMA roaming internationally.

[PEZ Posted Aug 18th 2006 8:58AM]

Since Tmo partners with 6000+ hotspots in the US and EU - roaming is a deifnate, though you will pay for it overseas.

Also - The Samsung isnt the only phone they will offer - there will be 3 total. For now.

Expect HTC to jump on the bandwagon, too.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2006 10:47AM]

btw, it's GAN, not UMA. I believe the UMA term is no longer used and was replaced by GAN (General Access Network or something like that)

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2006 7:04PM]

I work for a dealer in the Dallas area. In our web-based activation system POS, I noticed a checkbox with the words "Is this a UMA device?"
I wonder if it means we might get to see it in Texas soon.